PHILADELPHIA: These findings suggest that surgery and anesthesia have little effect on memory or other thinking skills beyond the initial period after the procedure.
Undergoing surgery later in life is not associated with an increased risk of long-term cognitive decline, according to the results of a large twin study involving more than 8,500 middle-aged and elderly Danish twins.
The study is the latest in a growing body of research that appears to debunk the idea that the use of general anesthesia during surgery leads to what has been referred to as persistent postoperative cognitive decline (POCD).
This latest study may therefore offer some reassurance to older people who are reluctant to undergo surgery that might enhance their quality of life because they are worried it will permanently affect their cognitive abilities, including memory…